By Scieska Adderley
The Bahamas Communications Public Officer's Union (BCPOU) and Bahamas Public Manager's Union (BCPMU) received some good news yesterday after a two week injunction was placed against them by the management of the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC) was lifted.
Supreme Court Justice Bernard Turner handed down the verbal ruling. One of the union’s attorneys, Anthony McKinney explained Wednesday’s ruling to the Bahama Journal. "In the matter of BTC vs. BCPOU and BCPMU, he discharged the injunction against the unions. This means that the injunction has been lifted and the parties are back to the conditions that they were in previous to the injunction being granted." Attorneys Wayne Munroe, Anthony McKinney and Andrew McKinney represented the BCPOU and BCPMU. This ruling comes two weeks after the two unions and its members staged two days of industrial action, which resulted in BTC’s operations being brought to a halt. It was a move that BTC’s management had put in place in an effort to avert further industrial action at the telecommunications company. BTC workers and the unions that represent them have adamantly opposed the government’s decision to sell 51 per cent of the company’s shares to the London-based telecom company, Cable & Wireless Communications. And these unions are not alone in the fight, as most of the country’s major trade unions have pledged their support and commitment to keep BTC’s ownership in Bahamian hands. Just one week ago, hundreds of members answered the union’s call and swarmed the old City Market parking lot just across from the Southern Recreation grounds, a significant place for unions as it is where the Father of Labour Sir Randol Fawkes led many rallies. Mr. McKinney also addressed the issue of pending industrial action from these unions over the Christmas holidays. "They would not strike pending the filing of the appeal and the matter being taken up by the court of appeal." Mr. McKinney further explained that Justice Turner is not expected to hand down his written ruling until early 2011. BTC executives are planning to file an appeal against Justice Turner’s ruling. National Congress of Trade Unions Bahamas (NCTUB) Secretary General Robert Farquharson expressed last week his confidence that the unions would emerge victorious. Mr. Farquharson defended both the BCPOU and the BCPMU, which fall under the NCTUB, claiming that the unions did nothing wrong and followed the right procedures. If the unions decide to stage another massive protest, like last week’s demonstration, Mr. Farquharson said, it will be done within the confines of the unions’ industrial agreement. According to officials, C&W will acquire the majority stake in BTC, including management control of the business for $210 million plus stamp taxes. In addition, C&W will work with the government and the management of BTC to finalise a business plan for BTC, addressing its plan for the modernisation of telecommunications throughout The Bahamas, for the development of BTC following privatisation, and how service rates charged to Bahamians consumers could be reduced in the period leading up to the liberalisation of cellular services.
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